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Naomi Osaka admits realizing she was about to face a top-10 participant for the primary time this season left her feeling “one thing drastically completely different was going to occur” however now stays optimistic that the match versus Zheng Qinwen will assist her going ahead.
On Monday, former world No. 1 Osaka met a top-10 participant for the primary time since launching her post-pregnancy comeback at first of this season. Taking part in towards world No. 7 and 2024 Australian Open runner-up Zheng, Osaka made a really sluggish begin earlier than the Chinese language went on to finish a routine 6-2 6-4 win within the Rome round-of-16.
Earlier than assembly Zheng, the final time Osaka confronted off towards a top-10 participant got here in 2022 August when she performed Coco Gauff in San Jose.
Simply two days earlier than assembly Zheng, Osaka ousted world No. 11 Daria Kasatkina 6-3 6-3. On paper, the distinction between the seventh and eleventh place is not one thing astonishingly massive. However simply realizing that it was her first assembly versus a top-10 participant in almost two years had a psychological influence on Osaka.
“Yeah, I feel it has been some time since I performed a top-10 participant. I do not know. I simply felt like one thing drastically completely different goes to occur. I wasn’t as skilled,” Osaka stated.
“I am fairly I assume completely happy that I used to be in a position to play this match as a result of I’ll study loads from it. I am going to study that the extent’s not that completely different. It is sort of simply extra key moments I’d say, staying mentally very resilient in myself and my skills.
“I feel it simply obtained to a degree that I wasn’t actually too assured in myself. I feel you may sort of see that. Then I picked it again up, in fact, yeah.”
Osaka on her French Open plan now
In Rome, Osaka performed 4 matches and was in a position to clinch three wins – two of these wins got here towards top-20 gamers, Kasatkina and Marta Kostyuk. Now main as much as the French Open, Osaka has performed three tournaments and has a 4-3 file on clay.
After beating Kasatkina and Kostyuk in straight units for her first two top-20 wins on clay, Osaka feels good about her stage however nonetheless plans to return to the observe court docket and do a very good coaching block earlier than the French Open.
“Yeah, I feel I am in all probability going to do a extremely stable coaching block once more. That is been understanding for me, so hopefully it really works out much more.
“After that I am going to go to Paris and see Shai, so I am actually completely happy about that.”
Since returning, Osaka has underlined many occasions that her aim is to be successful titles. Though Osaka did not win Rome, she nonetheless managed to beat a top-20 participant for the primary time on clay and she or he positively confirmed some promising indicators earlier than exiting the event.
When requested about her week and clinching two top-20 wins, Osaka was requested if she was accepting this as an awesome outcome.
“Yeah, that is a extremely good query for me as a result of I am nonetheless making an attempt to determine it out (smiling),” Osaka stated.
It is actually powerful. Additionally I really feel very grateful on the similar time. Somewhat little bit of a mixture of feelings. I feel to be on this place that I’m proper now, and to have been in a position to beat Kasatkina in straight units is one thing that I am actually completely happy about. However presently I am speaking to you as a result of I misplaced a match.
“I do not know. I’ve to course of issues somewhat bit in another way but in addition settle for the final time I performed quarters in Rome, I did not play seeded gamers in all probability. I do not bear in mind too properly. I do not suppose I did.”
Osaka proud of the progress she has been making because the begin of the clay season
After shedding to Marta Trevisan within the Rouen first spherical in her opening match on clay this season, Osaka went to the Madrid Open the place she defeated Greetje Minnen earlier than shedding to Liudmila Samsonova. In Rome, Osaka had her greatest event of the clay season and positively discovered some type and momentum going into the French Open.
In her presser after the Zheng loss, Osaka stated she was “very completely happy” with the progress created from Madrid to Rome and in addition supplied an perception into how she feels about her pictures.
“But when I have been to remove one factor that I am assured in myself, hmm, I feel from all of the matches that I’ve performed right here I am making an attempt to research, I feel I’ve hit a pair actually good backhands once I’m within the backhand cross-court. I am very assured and completely happy about that,” Osaka defined.
“However I feel when I’ve to hit forehand, typically I second-guess myself. I did that right this moment loads. I feel simply realizing that I’ve to hit by the ball is one thing that I am in all probability going to work on once I get to Mallorca.”
When Osaka returns to the French Open, she will probably be enjoying at Roland Garros for the primary time since 2022.
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